AN: Sorry. Still extending the story. At least the reviewers are not complaining. Sorry for the cliffhanger, by the way. Thank you very much for the nice reviews.

Chapter 5

The following morning, Lucas and Brooke call Sawyer, the twins and Lily for a little meeting in their room. They'd discussed for a long time for a long time what to do about the changed circumstances their impending wedding and the birth of their babies would bring, and came to an arrangement that was satisfactory to both of them.

"Good morning, guys. There are a few things Lucas and I need to tell you that affect you directly in different ways. First, I am nine weeks pregnant with twins."

Lily was the first to react. "Wow! That's great Aunt Brooke, Luke. Congratulations. Chris and I are pregnant too, seven weeks. Two pairs of cousins nearly the same age. This is going to be fun."

The twins weren't as enthusiastic.

"Congratulations, mom."

"Yeah, same here."

"Thanks. This is not all. The new babies, and our wedding have made us review our plans for the future. The first relevant thing is that Lucas an I are getting married in full communion."

Jude is the first to see the implications. What? Why would you do that? This is crazy."

"Well, it's our choice. Furthermore, we are making Lily our full heir, together with Sawyer, you two and the new babies."

Now Lily jumps up. "What? Come on, guys. Chris and I do fine, we don't need this."

"Again, sweetheart, it's what we want. I know you're Luke's sister, not his daughter, but you know that's not the whole story either."

"So, when Jude and Davis were ten, I set up a trust fund with fifty million dollars for each of them. Since they turned eighteen, they've been receiving a stipend from the trust, and, when they turn twenty-five, the full amount will become available to them to do as they see fit. Lucas had made a similar arrangement, with a smaller amount, for Sawyer. We are going to increase the size of the funds to two hundred million dollars each, with a slightly more complicated arrangement that keeps some of the funds on hold for your children. Basically, we are giving Lily a hundred million now, ninety million to Sawyer, and completing Jude and Davis trust funds to that amount. The same for the unborn twins. In addition, we are adding another hundred million in trust, which each of you will be curator, for your eventual children."

"So, in addition, we are setting up a charitable foundation, with initial funding of about two billion dollars, with objectives to be specified later. Each of you will have a permanent seat in the board of this foundation. We have amended our wills. In the event one of us dies, the surviving spouse inherits everything. The whole of our joint estate, after our death, will revert to the foundation. Except for small personal gifts, you shouldn't expect to inherit anything else."

Lily looks dazed, Sawyer bored and Jude and Davis slightly angry. Brooke guesses that if you're expecting to inherit billions some day, two hundred million may seem a little shabby.

"I'm sorry if this seems unfair, boys. From our point of view, you, and your eventual children are all well provided for. Anything else, you must build for yourselves."

Jude speaks for both of them. "It's all right, mom. We are disappointed, but we understand. It is your money, after all, and neither of you inherited any of it. Dad is going to be livid, though."

"Tell him to talk to me."

The boys leave, and Sawyer and Lily stay behind. "That was interesting. Do you think they are going to challenge it?"

"They are free to try. We may make the increased funds in their trust contingent on their not challenging it."

Sawyer laughs. "You're evil, mom."

"Just practical."

Sawyer turns to Lily. "Lily, will you call Chris? I assume you need to tell her about this conversation, and I want to do that ultrasound on the three of you. Mom, step into my office."

Lucas muses out loud. "Mom?"

"It's between me and Sawyer, Broody. We'll try to avoid it in front of Peyton."

Lucas gathers both girls in a hug. "You two make me very, very happy."

"It's our job, dad."

Lucas and Brooke converted the little office adjoining their bedroom into a Ob-Gyn examination room. Brooke is on the exam chair, and Sawyer is doing the exam, with Susan assisting. "Oh, here they are. Hi little siblings. Nice to meet you. Heartbeats are strong, they are well-positioned and their placentas

are well-separated. Do you guys see the tiny hands and feet? They are about an inch long, and they are not called embryos anymore. They've been officially promoted to fetuses. Oh, shit!"

Sawyer hands the wand to Susan and turns around, waving her hands. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry guys. It's nothing." She turns around and they can see the tears coming down her face.

Lucas wraps his arms around her, and Brooke grabs one of her hands. "Oh sweety."

She waves her hands. "Not the hardened doctor yet." A pause. "I'm going to have a hard time playing the doctor for these two."

"I think they'd rather have the sister, beanpole."

"Oh, I know, mom. I'd rather be their sister too."

Sawyer composes herself. "So how are you feeling?"

"Still vomiting in the morning, tired and the occasional heartburn."

"I can give you something for heartburn, and the morning sickness should taper off in a month or so. She turns to Susan. Can I see her chart? You stopped weight gain these past two weeks, that's fine. Good hormone levels, excellent diet, exercise. You and the babies are doing fine, mom. Better than fine."

"Thanks, sweetie."

"Do you have any questions?"

Lucas and Brooke exchange a glance, smile and Brooke turns to Sawyer. "How about you and Jeff?"

"Sawyer flushes. You guys... All right. We moved in together, ok? He told me he loved me and I told him I loved him back back. We are doing just fine!"

Brooke arches one eyebrow. "He any good in bed?"

Lucas wakes up. "Hey! I don't want to know about that."

"Shut up Broody." And turning to Sawyer. "So?"

"He's great, all right? The best. And that's all I'm saying with my father in the room."

"Thank goodness."

"I think you two better get out of here and call Lily and Chris, before I embarrass myself anymore."

"You got it, Crabcakes."

It's near lunchtime, and Lucas is sitting by himself in a small stone wall behind the house, looking at the staff and his guests going through the different parts of the farm.

"Hey, big brother."

"Hi, Little brother. Skipped the tour?"

"I've seen it all two weeks ago. To be honest, I think farming is boring. You need a backboard and a rim here somewhere."

"Funny. That never occurred to me. I must be getting old..."

"That you are. I heard a rumor about a winemaker and Lydia. Anything to it?"

Lucas laughs. "I guess. They met yesterday morning, over some technical debate about wine. They seemed to hit it off, and spent most of the day together. At dinner, your daughter couldn't stop talking about... winemaking. I suspect it's the winemaking, not the winemaker that's turning Lydia's head."

"Really? That's funny."

"Well, the end product is nicer than pills. And you can make good money on it too. I suppose there aren't many MIT biochemists with MBA's in the wine business."

"You know her. She'll kill at anything she does. But for winemaking, she needs the nose. Do you think she has it?"

"Is she a good cook?"

"Yup. Actually, now that you mention it, she's always been a bit of a foodie. Picky about tastes and smells... interesting. If she's into it, please, be sure to help her along. We'll provide financial backing as needed."

"Of course, little brother. If she wants to get into it, she'll need to go to school a bit. With her background, probably six months at the Ecole du Vin should do it. I'll be happy to give her an internship here, or help her find one at some nice vineyard. How's business?"

"We are a bit overworked at Fortitude. We're not even considering taking in new talent until some of our current athletes retire. What about you? Any new books?"

"I'm finishing one now. To be honest, right now, all I want to do is to make up lost time with Brooke."

"About that. How did it happen? I know Brooke asked Haley for your phone in Paris, what? A couple of months ago? How long it was since the last time you saw her?"

"Eight years. Mom's funeral."

"Did you guys write, call, exchange smoke signals?"

"No contact, little brother."

"So, eight years without any contact with her, she comes by two months ago and you just click."

Lucas smiles and decides to level with his brother. "There is more to it, but it is a bit underhanded."

"What?"

"I knew how I felt about Brooke. I mean, I love Peyton, but given a choice, I would have been with Brooke since high school. But Brooke never gave me a choice. No matter what I said or did, she always thought I belonged with Peyton. So I married Peyton, we had Sawyer, and I really tried to make a good life with them. Peyton always knew about my feelings for Brooke. What I didn't know is that she pretty much broke us up senior year. During the rehearsal dinner for you and Hales' confirmation, Peyton told Brooke that she feelings for me. Brooke freaked out, broke up with me and shut me out.

"Shit. They did have a huge fight that day, and nobody never knew why."

"So, even after we were married Peyton never felt entirely comfortable with us. Sometimes she was distant with me and even with Sawyer, and sometimes she was fine. She started drinking, and then came the pills. I started writing my third book after we had been married for about a year, and, if it wasn't for Sawyer, I would have already divorced Peyton. then I poured in all my feelings for Brooke into that third book. All over the main story line are little incidents that happened during the time I was with Brooke. Little messages that only she could understand. That book became a huge best-seller. I kept doing it for all the following books. Each one of those ten books is a love letter that only Brooke could really understand.

"What happened when she started reading them?"

"Nothing. Until two months ago she never gave me the least indication that she read any of the books. They had a huge impact on her, though. I don't know when she started reading them, but the first book came out three years after Sawyer's birth. She had already been married to Julian for a while, and it was close to the time she became pregnant with the twins. The books rekindled her feelings for me, and at some point, convinced her that my feelings for her were the real thing. After that it was a matter of the twins growing up, and her marriage to Julian self-destructing. When she came to Paris two months ago, she came with the intention of moving in with me for good, and I guess, even after all this time, I was still waiting for her."

"Wow. You know this is crazy. Epic romantic, but crazy."

"What about marrying your high school sweetheart junior year, and making it stick for thirty five years? You know, I fell in love with her about the same time you two did. It just took us all this time to get where you are. We even had our three children along the way, to make up for all the heartbreak. "

"You may have a point."

"There's a little twist. She is pregnant. Twins again."

Nathan gets up. "Hey, that's fantastic! How is this possible? Isn't she too old? Congratulations, man"

Lucas laughs. "All right, settle down, little brother. First, the how is part of the story. Fifteen years ago she did some egg harvesting, thinking of a day we might be back together. You may call that her little surprise gift for me, like this house was my surprise gift for her."

"You're both crazy."

"That's right. She is nine weeks along..."

"Wait. You guys haven't been back in touch for nine weeks."

"Pregnancy is counted from two weeks before fertilization. So, nine weeks means seven weeks since we went to the doctor to have the IVF thing done."

"All right. I guess I knew that."

"Sawyer knew the moment she saw Brooke last night, and we told the twins and Lily this morning. We're planning on making a big announcement at dinner tonight."

"You're going to raise the kids here?"

"That's the plan."

"It's a great place for it, or it will be, once you add a backboard and a hoop somewhere. You know, maybe we should buy a home down here. I'd love to see these new nephews grow up, and I'm pretty sure Haley would too."

"That would be great. If you do, I'll be sure to have a full basketball court made somewhere. Then we can teach these frogs a thing or two."

"Aunt Brooke?"

"Oh,, hi Lily, Chris. You should just call me Brooke, or sister, if you wish. How are the babies?"

"Sawyer says they are both fine, seven weeks and counting. We could hear their heartbeats. I've been calling you aunt Brooke, or auntie, all my life. I'd rather continue doing it."

"That's ok sweetie. Suit yourself."

"There's something else. For a while now, Chris and I have had this dream of leaving the catering business and opening a little bed and breakfast in the coast. Of course, we don't have to do anything anymore, given what you and Luke decided to do, but we've both been working hard pretty much all our lives, and we can't see ourselves just doing nothing. Also, we would really like it if our children grew up near their new cousins. So, what do you think of us opening up our new bed-and-breakfast around here?"

Brooke squeals and jumps up and down. "What do I think? What do I think? Nothing could make me happier. And your brother is going to flip too, when he hears of this plan. Wow! That's such amazing news!"

"We would go back to Greenville and wrap up our business there. We could be back here in a couple of weeks to start searching for a nice property. Would you put us up? Can Susan do our pre-natal work-up too?"

Brooke laughs. "Lucas is going to love living with three pregnant women. We'll make sure to wake him up at all hours with some amazing requests. Of course Susan can do your pre-natal work too. What about you Chris? Are you on board with this? Aren't you going to miss your family?."

"Well, I'm sure going to miss my family, but I am in love with this region. Besides, we'll have close family nearby, and cousins the same age, and that's all the family one can ask. I really think it's a great idea, and I thank you and Lucas so much to make it possible."

"You should hunt for your brother and tell him."

"All right, auntie. See ya later."

Brooke is still sitting on her bed, waiting for Sawyer to finish her notes, when there is a soft knock on her door. "Come in."

"Peyton slowly opens the door and sees Brooke sitting by herself on the bed. "I just wanted to talk..."

That moment, Sawyer comes out of the exam room, "Mom, I've just finished my notes on Lily and Chris, so... Mom!"

Peyton just stares at her daughter, processing her sudden appearance. She speaks in a small voice. "You're calling her mom?" And to Brooke, with a frown. "She is calling you mom?"

Sawyer answers her. "Yes, mom. I am. She is my godmother, my namesake, my soon to be stepmom and she makes daddy very happy. So, yes, I asked her if I could call her mom, and she said it was ok."

"So, you're calling us both mom."

Sawyer straightens herself and gives her mother an icy glare. "I didn't figure I'd be in the same room with the both of you that often. Since I guess you have the priority, you're mom, and in this precise situation, I'll just call Brooke stepmom."

Brooke giggles, and Peyton, after glaring at Brooke for the impropriety, ends up laughing too. "I love you, beanpole."

"And I love you too, sweetheart. It's quite ok. You can call Brooke whatever you want."

Sawyer takes a little longer to cool down. "And I love both of you old witches too. She turns to Brooke. Should I leave?"

Brooke turns to Peyton with an eyebrow arched. Peyton sighs and says. "No. We should all talk anyways. I do have a question, though. Notes on Lily and Chris? What's back there?," pointing at the exam room."

Brooke replies. "It's an Ob-Gyn examination room. Lily and Chris are pregnant, and Sawyer was examining them. They are fine, seven months along."

"That's nice and why..." Peyton is very far from stupid. "You're pregnant too, you slut."

Sawyer starts to complain. "Hey..." but Brooke cuts her off with a gesture. "It's ok sweetie. We always talked to each other like this, Not in front of you, though. Isn't that right, skank?"

Peyton gives a small smile. "Yes. I didn't mean to diss your stepmom. So?"

"Yeah, nine weeks along. Twins, According to our daughter here, her siblings are doing fine."

"That's a lot to process, give me a minute." A moment. "Our daughter? Really?"

Brooke smiles mischievously. "Sorry. I couldn't resist. I'm not trying to steal her. But I do love her like a daughter."

"I know you do, and I'm glad for it. We did choose you as her godmother, after all."

"And I'm not about to forget who my mother is, either."

"Why don't you guys sit down? You two blonde lightposts are giving me a pain in the neck."

Peyton sits next to Brooke on the bed, and Sawyer pulls up a chair. "So, BDavis, how did this happen?"

"What exactly?"

"Everything. Bear in mind, I am your maid of honor, and I'm supposed to deliver a speech tomorrow, so it is my business."

"Well, seven weeks ago, I came to Paris, with the intention of getting back with Lucas. As it turned out, he had been waiting for me."

"And when did you indicate to him that you might do that?"

"Never."

"And how did you know he might possibly want to get back with you?"

"The books."

"Of course. Every single book after the Comet had a secret love letter directed at you."

"That's right. After the third book, I started believing it. And I begun to plan going back to him."

"That's nineteen years ago."

"He never even knew that I read any of the books, until Paris."

Peyton stays silent for a while, and she begin to talk in a soft voice. "I've been in and out of rehab for most of my life. I've attended countless twelve-step meetings and therapist sessions. If I've learned anything in my life, is to be honest with myself. And I'll tell you two. This fucking hurts. He was never really all in. But the truth is, I knew that. And I wasn't either. If it wasn't for this amazing young woman here, I'd call my life so far a total waste. I know I deliberately got between Luke and Brooke, for my own selfish reasons, and nearly destroyed our lives. I'm appalled, and awed, by how you two kept your flame going under the circumstances, and still managed to be good parents and keep at least the appearance of being decent spouses. And now you're picking up the threads after all this time, and starting again. If there is one thing this wedding gives me is a little hope, that it is possible to pick up the loose threads of a life and start over. Sure, I'm not Brooke fucking Davis or Lucas fucking Scott, overachievers extraordinaire, but I can still try."

Sawyer, with tears in her eyes, embraces her mother. "Oh, mom, I hope so. There's so much light in you that's been hidden by addiction. I hope you can pick up your loose threads, as you say. And you can count on me for anything."

Brooke blinks, to mask the tears in her own eyes. "The same here, PSawyer. You know I'll always love you."

Dinner is served in the dining room, as there are precisely sixteen people present. The menu uses products from La Jolie Fille, as possible. Salad, roast pork with prune sauce and baked apples, cheeses and cream-filled pastries with raisins and walnuts, with wine, grape, pear and apple juices. With the desert course, come improvised toasts, beginning with Lucas and Brooke. They stand up together, with Lucas arm loosely draped across Brooke's back.

"Let us first thank you all for coming, and sharing this moment. Brooke and I have loved each other since we were sixteen, and, if it's taken a long time to come together, it is still with great joy that tomorrow we will commit to become a family. And that is not all, because our new family is about to grow. As many of you already know, Brooke is pregnant with twins, due in April. It is our dearest wish that you, our family, always feel welcome wherever we are, and we would like to have you all here in our home, as often and for as long as you might like, and you come to know our new children. Finally, I would like to propose a toast. To those dear to us that are no longer in this world, specially Karen Roe and Keith Scott. May their spirits bless us and protect us and their memory inspire us in all days to come. Cheers!"

Jamie stands up. "Since I can remember, I felt that these two, my godparents, belonged together. I remember, I was maybe five years old, seeing clearly the depth of passion they had for each other, similar to what I saw between my parents. I remember once talking to Lily about how lucky their children would be, to have these two as their parents. It was confusing that they married to other people and went about their lives separately, and when I asked my mother about it, all she said was that it was complicated, and that one day I would understand. So here we are. It wasn't complicated after all. They just had to find their way. And I still think that my new cousins will be very lucky to have these two as parents. To uncle Lucas and aunt Brooke. Cheers!"

Next Lily stands up. "I make Jamie's words mine. And I would add that my mother loved aunt Brooke like a daughter and dreamed of seeing these two together. I believe that my mother and father, wherever they are, look at this day with great joy. I don't have a toast to offer, but instead I make an announcement. My partner Chris and I are both expecting, and we are due shortly after Aunt Brooke. We are planning to move to Arfeuilles soon, and open a bed-and-breakfast. We have fallen in love with this region, and we want our children to grow near their cousins. That's all."

Lucas looks at Brooke. "Did you know this?" Brooke nods. Lucas gets up and hugs Lily. "I'm so happy, little sister. I have no words. Thank you Chris."

We all sit down and silence falls on the room. Brooke begins saying "If everyone is done we can..." but Haley stands up and interrupts her.

"Just a second Tigger. Let me say a few words. I think most of you know how close I am to those two. Lucas is my oldest friend, we were inseparable since kindergarten, and Brooke became as close as a sister to me during high school. In the morning after their first date, Lucas arrived in school with a goofy smile that I had never seen before. He told me he had gone on a date with this girl, the sexy head cheerleader of Tree Hill High, and that it had been amazing. At the time, Brooke had a reputation as a shallow girl, who would break boys hearts right and left. I was worried about my friend, and I expressed my concern to him, but he replied that there was much more to Brooke Davis than her reputation allowed. That she was a great person and had no fear of being herself. As time passed, I realized how right Lucas was, that behind that shallow reputation was the truest friend and the greatest heart I've ever known. I also saw my friend fall head over heels in love with Brooke, and be fully corresponded. I saw that same silly grin many times after that, and learned to recognize the effect that Brooke Davis had on my friend. I also saw wild girl Brooke grow into her own skin, so that the qualities that she only showed a few people became apparent to everyone. She became school council president, and I was sitting right besides her when she had the idea for Clothes over Bros. Their love for each other made them both grow and flourish, made them better, and I think it still does. It also hurt them terribly, as the happenstances of life pulled them apart. One thing I am certain. What they had for each other, and what they still have, is true love. What was once separated, true love brought back together. So, here is to true love. Cheers.

Before they disappear for the night, Brooke gets close to Jamie and grabs his arm. She whispers in his ear. "You're going to walk me down the aisle tomorrow, Godson."

"You sure, aunt Brooke? What about the twins?"

"I couldn't choose between them. Besides, you're still my favorite Scott boy."

"It will be an honor aunt Brooke."

"Thanks."

Brooke and Lucas approach their bedroom door, after having said their goodnights. Brooke gets into the room and begins to close the door, blocking Lucas from entering.

"Hey! What?"

"It's tradition, Broody. We are to be married tomorrow. So, from now until I walk into the church, we don't see each other."

Lucas shrugs, disappointed. "All right, Pretty Girl, if it's tradition. So were I'm supposed to sleep?"

Brooke smiles and says. "You can try Peyton's bed." And she closes the door on a bewildered Lucas.

"But, but.."

She opens the door again, a broad smile on her face. "You know what, Broody? Fuck tradition," grabbing, him by his shirt, she drags him into their bedroom.

"That's not what I'm intending to fuck tonight, princess."

Brooke is trying to finish up her make-up, with Haley's help. While, Peyton was also finishing up her make up, with Sawyer's help.

"Everybody else is gone with the bus, Tigger. Maurice is waiting with the car."

"I have to get this right, Tutormom. The photographer from BDavis is going to take pictures for a whole spread, and I can't be looking like an old, pregnant harpy."

"You're still gorgeous, Tigger. I hope to look as good when I reach your age."

"Hmpf. You're older than me. Are you trying to confuse a poor, aged, pregnant former cheerleader?"

"Poor?"

"In a metaforical sense. You're confusing me with Bevin."

"Ah, right! I knew I took a wrong turn somewhere."

"And you think you're amusing. Did you know I asked your son to give me away?"

"No. Really? I would have liked to see his face. Why?"

"I don't know. I couldn't choose between the twins. I knew he would like it and I always felt a special connection with him. I could have asked Nathan, but he's best man, and I need him up there, to stop Luke from bolting."

Haley giggles. "Wild horses couldn't take that boy away from the altar."

"Perhaps. But it's always good to be sure."

Brooke meets Peyton at the car. "You clean up nice, PSawyer." Brooke had made her a midnight blue dress down to midcalf, with spaghetti straps and a slightly slutty low cut. Peyton had her hair curled, loose down to her shoulders, a couple of strands framing her face, and make up that highlighted her large green eyes. She was looking like her old gorgeous self. Brooke's dress had was a strapless number, tight on top and flaring at the hips, with a small train, and embroidered with fresh water pearls across the bust. She had tiny white flowers worked on an elaborate hairdo which left a few strands hanging, and highlighted her elegant neck. There was no bump yet, but she did have that pregnant girl glow going. The women got into the car, and Maurice stepped on it, as they were already twenty minutes late.

The front of the small church was a riot. There were four TV vans, and about fifty reporters. The gendarmes made a cordon to keep some of the mess away from the door of the church and make way for their car to get in. Jamie was waiting outside of the church with his four-year-old Sean, who was going to be ringbearer. A song started playing, and Jamie sent Sean in, followed by Peyton a few seconds later. Then the nuptial march started and Brooke begun to walk down the aisle, with her boy waiting for her at the altar, the silly grin Haley mentioned in her speech stamped onto his face. Halfway in, a sudden dizzy spell came over her, and she grabbed into Jamie's arm, so as not to fall. "You ok?" Jamie whispered. "Just a little dizzy. Help me out." She manages to get to the altar and to Lucas' arm, but the dizzy spell worsens, and she sits down o the floor.

There's a little commotion, but Sawyer jumps ahead and kneels in front of Brooke. "Mom, what are you feeling?"

"Just dizzy."

Sawyer takes her pulse and inspects her nails. "When did you eat last?"

"Breakfast. Didn't have time for lunch. I was going to eat a banana before coming here but I forgot."

Sawyer mutters to herself. "Idiot! Pregnant with twins and can't be bothered to eat. Amanda. Do you have a juice and some cookies in your baby bag?"

"Sure."

"What, beanpole?"

"You're probably hypoglycemic. Nothing serious. Here, drink this juice and eat a cookie. You should feel better in a bit."

Indeed, in about a minute, Brooke was fine, and the ceremony went on without problems. At least B Davis wouldn't publish pictures of her sitting at the altar. "...je vous declare mari et femme. Vous pouvez baiser votre femme."

They picked up the paperwork from the priest and took pictures at the altar. About fifteen minutes later they went outside, where the paparazzi riot was trying to get them to make a statement. Brooke and Lucas just reenacted the bridal kiss for the journalists. One of the guys from Brooke's security detail pulled her aside.

"Excuse, ma'm. This stranger was behaving in an erratic manner and trying to crash into the church. We pulled him aside, and we are keeping him inside one of the detail's cars. He claims to know you. So far, we managed to avoid calling their attention, pointing at the paparazzi."

"All right, show me."

Brooke puts her head into the car and is shocked. Crumpled, deepset angry eyes, three day beard. "Julian? What are you doing here?"